Malcolm Glazer, sports owner and philanthropist, dies at 85

(JTA) — Malcolm Glazer, owner of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the British soccer club Manchester United, has died.

Glazer died Wednesday, three days after his 85th birthday. He had been in failing health after suffering two strokes since April 2006.

One of seven children born to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants, Glazer took over the family’s watch parts business at the age of 15 following the death of his father. He later served as president and chief executive officer of First Allied Corp., a holding company for his varied business interests that included international holdings and public companies.

In 1999 he launched the Glazer Family Foundation, which assists charitable and educational causes in the Tampa Bay community.

Glazer had purchased the Buccaneers in 1995 for a then-NFL record of $192 million; the value has more than quadrupled. The team will remain in the family’s hands. Three of his six sons handle its day-to-day operations.

Glazer finished acquiring ownership of Manchester United, part of the Premier League, in 2005. The team is co-chaired by his sons Joel and Avram. Fans had opposed his takeover of the club, for which he paid just over $1.2 billion.